So was Donald Trump right about corruption in Puerto Rico’s use of relief funds? Kinda. The FBI arrested one of the top administrators of FEMA and the CEO of a contractor on wire fraud and bribery charges, along with a lower-level FEMA official today for fraud and bribery involving Hurricane Maria relief. The contractor got a $1.8 billion contract for rebuilding Puerto Rico’s notoriously unreliable electrical infrastructure, which the Department of Justice says came by way of bribery (via Twitchy):

Two former FEMA officials, including one of the agency’s top administrators, were arrested on federal fraud and bribery charges in connection with their work in Puerto Rico since Hurricane Maria hit the island in 2017.

The FBI also arrested the ex-president of Cobra Acquisitions, contracted to work with federal officials on the restoration of Puerto Rico’s power grid, which sustained widespread damages in the storm.

CBS’ reporter in Puerto Rico, David Begnaud, tweeted out the Department of Justice press release on the arrest and indictments. Begnaud also named names, as well as published their pictures. He also notes that Donald Trump has been vocal about suspected corruption in regard to Hurricane Maria relief, and that this tends to corroborate those suspicions:

David Begnaud✔@DavidBegnaud BREAKING: The FEMA official in Puerto Rico, in charge of power restoration after Hurricane Maria, has been arrested by the FBI, as has the fmr. CEO of Cobra Energy (which got $1.8B in contracts) & a 2nd FEMA official...all accused of enriching themselves & defrauding the fed govt

David Begnaud✔@DavidBegnaud · 3h .@POTUS has accused the Puerto Rico govt of being corrupt, & they are in some ways, & have been, but today’s corruption arrests involve 3 individuals, 2 of whom for the federal govt, (1 who’s an energy CEO); all are accused of corruption to the tune of nearly 2 billion dollars.

Trump’s accusations usually are directed at officials in Puerto Rico rather than the federal government. Nonetheless, this semi-corroboration of Trump’s longstanding accusations might account for the light media coverage of these arrests. It’s been a busy news day thus far, but as of 1:30 pm ET, only Begnaud and an NBC affiliate in San Francisco bothered to report on these arrests. That seems a little strange for fraud involving such a controversial topic like Hurricane Maria relief.

Two of these three defendants are big deals. Donald Keith Ellison was CEO of Cobra Acquisitions until June of this year, a company big enough to bid on a $1.8 billion government contract … in one way or another. Ahsha Nateef Tribble was FEMA’s Deputy Regional Administrator and assigned to run the power rebuilding effort in Puerto Rico. Jovanda Patterson was no slouch either, being assigned as FEMA’s Deputy Chief of Staff in San Juan — until she went to work for Ellison in July of last year, a move that might have tipped off the FBI about the potential for shenanigans. All three could face 30-year sentences, but likely will be subject to lesser penalties if convicted, as are most first-time offenders.

If they are indeed guilty, perhaps this will serve as a lesson for others hoping to corrupt the disaster-relief system for personal profit. It certainly would help matters if such indictments got more attention from the media, however. Kudos to Begnaud and NBC’s Bay Area affiliate for taking it seriously.

Hmmmm....I seem to recall someone saying something about corruption related to the hurricane in Puerto Rico.

Anyone else remember that?

_________________The American Republic will endure until the day Congress discovers that it can bribe the public with the public’s money.- misattributed to Alexis De Tocqueville

No representations made as to the accuracy of info in posted news articles or links

A shame. This wouldn't have happened if the Clinton Foundation managed these incoming funds. Hillary "honest abe" Clinton could have made all this corruption go away b/c she is above reproach. Instead u get peons reaching in under the till. tsk tsk tsk.

_________________This post is not a legal document under any circumstance. It has not been prepared at all and is written offhand in jest while mentally impaired.Do not act or rely on any of this information without first seeking the advice of a psychoanalyst.

Joined: Tue Sep 16, 2008 4:26 pmPosts: 4139Location: not the end of the world but you can see it from hereReputation points: 12189

C_S wrote:

A shame. This wouldn't have happened if the Clinton Foundation managed these incoming funds. Hillary "honest abe" Clinton could have made all this corruption go away b/c she is above reproach. Instead u get peons reaching in under the till. tsk tsk tsk.

And anyone who would have been stupid enough to report any corruption would have committed suicide.

_________________Texas, where we have the death penalty and aren't afraid to use it! Build the wall!!

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 4 guests

You cannot post new topics in this forumYou cannot reply to topics in this forumYou cannot edit your posts in this forumYou cannot delete your posts in this forumYou cannot post attachments in this forum